Crystal holder



L. c. VIA

CRYSTAL HOLDER Feb. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1946 INVENTOR.

LESTER E. VIA

ATTORNEY L. C. VIA

CRYSTAL HOLDER Feb. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1946 INVINTOR. LESTER 5. WA

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE CRYSTAL HQLDER Lester 0. Via, Carlisle, Pa., assignor, by memo assignments, to Reeves Hoflman Corporation, Carlisle, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 26, 1946, Serial No. 643,773

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in oscillators and has particular relation to the so-called postage-stamp type of crystal holder.

An object of the invention is to provide an oscillator comprising a piezoelectric crystal or oscillator element together with a holder, the assembly being of simple and inexpensive construction and yet highly durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

A further object is to provide an oscillator wherein the air gap between the oscillating crystal and the electrodes is controlled by lapping of the faces of an insulator rather than by the use of adjusting screws as heretofore.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomes apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the. drawings- Fig. 1 is an isometric View showing an oscillator'made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the upper electrode removed and the piezoelectric crystal omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view suggesting one manner of use of the oscillator of Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified construction;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken as along the line 11 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing another modification;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken as along the line 99 of Fig. 8.;

Fig. 10 is a plan View showing a further modification;

Fig. 11 is a similar View showing a combined electrode and contact prong used in the oscillator of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 isa similar view of an open frame-like insulator employed in the modified construction;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the piezoelectric crystal employed;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken as along the line l4l4 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a sectional View at right angles to Fig. l4, the said view taken as along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 16 is an elevation'al view illustrating a manner of use of the oscillator of Figs. 10, 14 and 15.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and at first more particularly to Figs. 1 through 5, atv I0 is generally indicated the complete oscillator including or mounting a piezoelectric crystal II, as for example, a quartz wafer. The mounting or holder for the crystal I I comprises an open frame-like insulator 12 shown in the drawings as a fiat rectangular frame having an opening 13 therethroug'h. Opening (3 receives the crystal H and disposed against the opposite faces of the frame I 2 and thus at opposite sides of the crystal l I are similar electrodes I l and 15.

As shown, the electrodes l4 and i5 are of the same outside dimension and the outside dimensions of the electrodes are the same as those of the insulator [2. Thus, when the electrodes are disposed against the respective faces of the insulator the outer edges of all three parts are flush or substantially so and a laminated or sandwich-like structure is provided. The said three parts are held in the describ d relation by means of a pair of tubular rivets l6 and I1. For the accommodation of these rivets the parts are manufactured with openings which register when the parts are assembled as described and the rivets are then passed through such openings and spun over drawing the electrodes tightly against the respective faces of the insulator.

To avoid having the rivets l6 and I"! short circuit the electrodes, rivet I6 is insulated from electrode [4 by a collar-like insert or bushing E8 of any suitable insulating material and to the same end a similar collar-like insert or bushing I9 insulates the rivet I! from the electrode l5. In their outer surfaces the electrodes l4 and I5 are provided with centrally located irregularities here shown as comprising socket-like depressions 20 and 2| respectively.

In order that a close fit will be obtained between the inner faces of the electrodes and the respective faces of the insulator l2, both faces of the insulator and the inner faces of the electrodes are lapped to insure parallelism. This lapping of the faces of the insulator also provides a method for controlling the air gap between the oscillator or crystal Hand the electrodesand I5. 111- one oscillator made in the inner faces of the electrodes, it will be clear that when the electrodes are clamped against the faces of the insulator by the hollow rivets i6 and H or by other means used for the same purpose, there will be a nearly perfect fit between the faces of the insulator and the inner faces of the electrodes so that continuous contact over all or substantially all of the opposed areas of such parts will be established.

This insures an air-tight or substantially airtight enclosure about the crystal Further, as the insulator is lapped t the desired thickness, the lapping operation provides a method of control of the air gap between the electrodes and the crystal and there is no occa sion for any adjustable mounting, elaborate or otherwise, of either or both of the electrodes.

The complete oscillator as described may be used in a variety of ways and of course the crystal M will be the desired cut, size, etc. for any particular application.

Figs. 4 and 5 suggest a method of use of the oscillator l0 and in said figures a mounting bar 22, shown as of insulating material, carries pairs of contact straps or fingers 23 and 24 of which the fingers 23 are disposed in vertically spaced relation above the fingers 24. The oscillators III are mounted simply by snapping them between a pair of the spring contact fingers which preferably are provided with bowed or bulged portions 25 to snap into the depressions or sockets 20 and 2| in the respective electrodes l4 and I5.

In this way contact is established between the fingers 23 and 24 and the respective electrodes of the oscillator and any suitable switch means (not shown) may be used for connecting any selected one of the oscillators into a circuit.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a slightly different construction of oscillator is there generally designated 26. Oscillator 26 includes the open frame-like insulator |2 receiving the piezoelectric crystal II and disposed between electrodes 21 and 2B. Electrodes 21 and 28 are of the same construction as electrodes I4 and 15 with the exception that the irregularities or depressions 20 and 2| of electrodes l4 and I5 are omitted from the electrodes 21 and 28. Electrodes 21 and 28 are clamped against opposite faces of the insulator |2 by hollow rivets 29 and 30 corresponding with rivets |6 and I1 and insulated from the electrodes 21 and 28 respectively by the collars or bushings 3| and 32 respectively.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the insulator, crystal, electrodes and rivets of the oscillator of Figs. 6 and '7 are substantially identical with the corresponding parts of the figures first described. However, in the modification, leads or rat-tails 33 and 34 are soldered to or in the hollow rivets 29 and 30 respectively and are then carried across the respective surface edge portions of the electrodes 28 and 21 and project beyond the edges of the assembly.

The entir oscillator structure of Figs. 6 and 7 as thus far described is now placed in a suitable mold and has an integral casing 35 of insulating material molded thereabout. This integral casing 35 may in actual practice be approximately /32 of an inch in thickness but is an integral structure and is highly water or moisture resistant and preferably is wholly moisture proof. Further, this casing is of an electrical insulating material.

In the modification of Figs. 8 and 9 the oscillator is generally designated 36 and in this modified structure the insulator I2, the electrodes 21 and 28, piezoelectric crystal H, the hollow rivets 29 and 3|] and the insulating collars or bushings 3| and 32 are again employed. The only difference between the structure of the oscillator 36 and that of the oscillator 26 consists in the omission of the rat-tails or leads 33 and 34 and the clamping in place of a pair of attachment or contact lugs 31 and 38 by the rivets 29 and 30.

With special reference to Fig. 9 it will be noted that the inner end of lug 31 is clamped directly against electrode 28 by the rivet 29 and that the inner end portion of the lug 38 is clamped directly against the electrode 21 by the rivet 3B. Thus, in addition to securing the insulator and the electrodes together the rivets 29 and 3|] function to mount the lugs 31 and 38 and to insure a good electrical connection between said lugs and the respective electrodes.

After the assembly thus far described has been made, it is placed within a suitable mold and an integral casing 39 is molded thereabout. The casing 39 corresponds with casing 35 of Figs. 6 and 7 and in addition to enclosing the insulator l2 and the electrodes 21 and 28, encloses the end portions of the rivets and the inner portions of the lugs 31 and 38. This casing is highly water and moisture resistant or entirely moisture proof and is of electrical insulating material.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figs. 10 through 16, the oscillator there shown is generally'designated 40 and as shown comprises the open frame-like insulator |2, the piezoelectric crystal H and a pair of electrodes 4| and 42. Electrodes 4| and 42 are identical and as'best shown in Fig. 11, each comprises a body portion 43 of the size and configuration of the insulator l2 and provided with a pair of openings 44 adapted to align with the openings 45 of the insulator when a pair of the bodies 43 are assembled one against each face of the insulator. At such times hollow rivets 46 and 41 are passed through the registering openings and spun over so as to clamp the body portions 43 of the electrodes against the respective faces of the insulator I2. Rivet 45 is insulated from electrode 4| by a collar or bushing 48 and is in electrical contact with the electrode 42 while rivet 41 is insulated from electrode 42 by a collar or bushing 49 and is in electrical engagement with the electrode 4|. This is substantially the structure previously described.

Essentially the difference between the oscillator 40 and those previously described resides in the fact that the electrodes 4| and 42 in addition to the body portions 43 are each blanked out with an integral leg portion. In the drawings such leg portions of the electrodes 4| and 42 are designated 50 and 5| respectively. The electrodes are of identical construction as above stated but in the assembly they are arranged in reversed relation so that the distance between the leg portions 50 and 5|, comprising contact prongs, as shown in Fig. 10 is the center distance between the entrances to a socket or receptacle.

After the various parts have been assembled 5 as described, the assembly is placed in a suitable mold and integral casing 52 is molded thereabout.

This casing is of the material and for the purpose above suggested with respect to the casings 35 and 39 of oscillators 26 and 36 respectively. Casing 52 completely encloses the body portions of the electrodes and the insulator l2 and also encloses the inner portions of the contact prongs 50 and 5|. An oscillator of the type herein designated 40 might well be employed in constructions such as that shown in Fig. 16 wherein multiple receptacle openings 54, 55, 56, 51 and 58 are shown in the body 59. The entrances 54 through 58 are arranged to receive the prongs 50 and 51 of the oscillator 40.

In the various oscillators herein disclosed it will be understood that the piezoelectric crystals, are of any desired cut and of any desired dimension. The insulator I2 is in each instance lapped to the proper thickness. Additionally, the electrodes employed are of the size and configuration depending upon the size and configuration of the insulator. In connection with the insulator it is pointed out that the same may be of any suitable resin or of glass or the like or other insulating material and may be molded r blanked to approximately the correct shape from a sheet and thereafter lapped to the exact dimension required.

Additionally, as pointed out, the integral casings 35, 39 and 47 of the forms shown in Figs. 6 through 16 may be from any suitable material. The casings are molded up of a resin or the like and while there is considerable choice of material from which the casings may be made it is highly important that they be molded of a, tough material and particularly that they be molded of a material which is highly moisture resistant and preferably is wholly moisture proof. These attributes are highly desirable if not essential in addition to the requirement that the molded casing be of an electrical insulating material.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator of less thickness than the thickness of said insulator, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, said insulator on its faces and said electrodes on their inner faces lapped for a close fiat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, and means clamping said electrodes and insulator to-. gether.

2. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, said insulator on its faces and said electrodes on their inner faces lapped for a close fiat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, and at least a pair of spaced securing means passing through spaced edge portions of said electrodes and said insulator and securing such parts together.

3. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, said insulator on its faces and said electrodes on their inner faces lapped for a close fiat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, at least a pair of spaced metallic securing means passing through spaced edge portions of said electrodes and said insulator and securing such parts together, and means insulating one of said securing means from one of said electrodes and the other securing means from the other of said electrodes.

4. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator of less thickness than the thickness of said insulator, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, said insulator on its faces and said electrodes on their inner faces lapped for a close flat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, and means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, and each of said electrodes having a substantially centrally located depression in its outer side for reception of a portion of a contact clip.

5. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator of less thickness than the thickness of said insulator, a rigid elec trode against each face of said insulator, said insulator on its faces and said electrodes on their inner faces lapped for a close fiat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, and means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, and each of said electrodes having a substantially centrally located irregularity on its outer side for cooperation with a spring contact clip.

6. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator and substantially filling the same, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, at least a pair of spaced metallic securing means passing through spaced edge portions of said electrodes and said insulator and securing such parts together, means insulating one of said securing means from one of said electrodes and the other securing means from the other electrode, and separate leads connected with the respective spaced metallic securing means.

7. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator and substantially filling the same, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, at least a pair of spaced metallic securing means passing through spaced edge portions of said electrodes and said insulator and securing such parts together, means insulatingone of said securing means from one of said electrodes and the other securing means from the other electrode, and separate contact lugs clamped against the outer faces of the respective electrodes by the metallic securing means contacting such electrodes.

8. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, a pair of contact lugs, and said clamping means securing the respective contact lugs to the respective electrodes.

9. An oscillator comprising an open frame-like one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator and substantially filling the same, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, at least a pair of spaced metallic securing means passing through spaced edge portions of said electrodes and said insulator and securing such parts together, means insulating one of said securing means from one of said electrodes and the other faces lapped for a close fiat fit of such faces of the electrodes on the faces of the insulator, means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, a contact'prong integral with each of said-electrodes, and said contact prongs extending from the same edge of the assembled oscillator in spaced substantially parallel relation.

11. An oscillator comprising an open framelike one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator, a pair of rigid electrodes each comprising a body portion of the shape of said insulator and an integral leg portion comprising a contact prong, and said electrodes arranged with their respective body portions against the respective faces of said insulator and their leg portions extending in the same direction and in substantially parallel relation. v

12. An oscillator comprising an open framelike one-piece insulator, a piezoelectric oscillator in the opening in said insulator, a pair of identical rigid electrodes each comprising a body portion of the shape of said insulator and an integral leg portion comprising a contact prong, and said electrodes arranged with their respective body portions against the respective faces of said insulator and their leg portions extending in the same direction and in substantially parallel relation.

13. The oscillator as in claim 1 wherein the assembly of the insulator, electrodes and clamping means are enclosed in an integral casing of insulating material.

14. The oscillator as in claim 6 wherein the assembly of the insulator, electrodes, metallic securing means and the inner portions of said leads are enclosed in an integral casing of insulating material.

15. The oscillator as in claim 8 wherein the assembly of the insulator, electrodes, clamping means and the inner portions of said lugs are enclosed in an integral casing of insulating material.

16. The oscillator as in claim 11 wherein the assembly comprising the insulator, the body portions of the electrodes, and the inner portions of said legs are enclosed in an integral casing of insulating material.

17. The step in the method of making the oscillator including an open frame-like insulator having a piezo electric oscillator therein and electrodes against each face thereof and secured thereto, comprising controlling the air gap between thepiezo electric oscillator and the electrodes by lapping the frame-like insulator to a desired thickness in excess of the thickness of said piezo electric oscillator.

18. An oscillator comprising an open framelike one-piece insulator, a piezo electric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator of less thickness than the thickness of said insulator and substantially filling said opening, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, and an integral casing of insulating material enclosing said insulator, electrodes and clamping means.

19. An oscillator comprising an open framelike one-piece insulator, a piezo electric oscillator in the opening in said frame-like insulator of less thickness than the thickness of said insulator and substantially filling said opening, a rigid electrode against each face of said insulator, means clamping said electrodes and insulator together, and an integral casing of moisture resistant electric insulating material enClOSing the assembly comprising said insulator, electrodes and clamping means.

LESTER C. VIA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,783,132 Ohl Nov. 25, 1930 1,908,320 Conklin May 9, 1933 1,933,735 Hund Nov. 7, 1933 1,959,827 I-Iyland May 22, 1934 2,070,732 Holden Feb. 16, 1937 2,247,627 Atwood et al. July 1, 1941 2,264,692 Gerber Dec. 2, 1941 2,399,908 Bokovoy May 7, 1946 2,399,919 Garrison May 7, 1946 

